The Bauble Shop

The play is about the political fall of an aristocratic member of Parliament caught trying to seduce the daughter of an inebriate toy maker. It ran 95 performances.

=====From the Acton Davies book=====

"In The Bauble Shop Lord Clivebrooke, the young leader of the House of Commons, meets Jessie Keber., a toy maker's daughter. At the outset his intentions towards her are not honourable. He visits her at night in her father's shop, but as the purity of the girl's nature reveals itself to him it shames him. He decides to leave her alone. On the night of their last meeting they are discovered by Stoach, the leader of the opposition. A bill with regard to public morality is to be introduced into the House by Clivebrooke on the following day. Stoach declares that he will brand Clivebrooke as a libertine before all the House unless he agrees to withdraw the bill. Clivebrooke refuses. The next act takes place in the lobby of the House. Stoach circulates the report with regard to Clivebrooke. Clivebrooke's father and his constituents hurry to the room to hear his denial. Clivebrooke is unable to deny that he was in the toy shop, but declares his intention of making the girl his wife."

"There was one scene in this play where Jessie described to her father the beautiful home that her lover, Clivebrooke, is making for her in which Miss Adams fairly excelled. From the mad raillery of Suzanne in The Masked Ball to the simplicity and pathos of Jessie Keber was a wide artistic leap, but Miss Adams accomplished it most successfully."

=====My Years on the Stage by John Drew 1921)=====

About two year after the opening I played at the Empire for the first time in Henry Arthur Jones' play The Bauble Shop. The argument is this, and it seems quite unanswerable, was that the private immoralities of a statesman's life may be used by his enemies to defeat an humiliate him in public life. the play was more successful in New York than London

=====American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1869-1914 by Gerald Bordman; Oxford University Press, 1994=====

The first new hit of the season was Charles Frohman 's production of Henry Arthur Jones's sentimental comedy The Bauble Shop ( 9-11- 94), Empire), which told how a middle-aged English lord is saved from despair and disgrace by the affectionate attention of a young daughter of a poor, besotted toymaker. For John Drew, his part marked a refreshing departure from the light-as-air farces of recent years. For his leading lady, Maude Adams, her glowingly warm portrayal gave her a further boost toward stardom. Beautifully mounted and filled with excellent supporting players, the piece had to be held over for an additional month beyond its two-month booking before setting out on a cross country tour.

Reviews

A September 12, 1894 review goes:

"She was charming in her simple sincerity. Her methods are delicate, her temperament sensitive and sympathetic, and per personality gracious and modest."

“She is as dainty and ingenuous as a Princess in a fairy tale under the spell of some enchanter-in the sordid routine, but not of it.” Jan. 7, 1896.

“Miss Maude Adams was charming in her simple sincerity. This young actress is in the right path. She has already accomplished much for one who has been only a few years on the stage, and she is making sure progress. Her methods are delicate and discreet, her temperament is exceptionally sensitive and sympathetic, her personality is gracious and modest. Her Jesse Keber was delightful.” New York Tribune Sept. 12, 1894

The New York Times, Nov. 17, 1891

Colorado Springs Gazette, Sept. 16, 1894

The Olean Democrat (NY), Sept. 21, 1894

The first article is a notice that the play will be opening the following week. The other two articles contain glowing praise of Maude Adams role, especially the article from the Olean Democrat. Can't get much more positive than that.

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